IOO St. Kildafrom Without. 



There was not a ripple in the land-locked bay 

 where the two steamers the one bound for the Skye 

 ports, the other for Stornoway lay with steam up, 

 and, as we moved out, we could not have wished for 

 fairer promise. 



But alas ! 



" Not seldom evening in the West, 

 Sinks smilingly forsworn." 



There was an unnatural oiliness in the calm of the 

 sea, and, as we cleared the successive headlands, and 

 came more into open water, the masts began to sway 

 slowly and steadily backwards and forwards, far out 

 on each side. The cordage creaked and strained 

 with the monotonous regularity of the snore of a 

 heavy sleeper, and we were aware of an ominous 

 ground swell, the reflex of tremendous waves some- 

 where. The surprise was less, but not the disap- 

 pointment, when, on steaming into Stornoway 

 Harbour late on Saturday night, the first news 

 which greeted us was that the storm cone was 

 hoisted. 



Our ship, the Jackal, was timed to start about 

 eight on Sunday evening, and by luncheon time we 

 were on board. 



The afternoon slipped pleasantly by, spent chiefly 

 in watching one of the sights familiar enough to 

 those who occupy themselves on the great waters, 

 but ever new to a landsman which help one to 

 realise the meaning of the extraordinary powers of 

 reproduction with which fish are gifted. A shoal of 

 small fry of some kind had found its way in, and was 

 moving about the harbour with the usual escort, 

 coming every now and then within a few yards of the 

 ship's sides. 



